 "Russia-Ukraine crisis: Indian student reportedly shot at in Kyiv, says VK Singh; 7,400 expected to be brought back in next 2 days")
New Delhi: An Indian student has reportedly been shot at and injured in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Minister of State for Civil Aviation VK Singh said on Friday. Singh is in Poland currently to facilitate the evacuation of Indians stranded in war-hit Ukraine. “Today, we heard reports that a student leaving Kyiv was shot at. He was taken back to Kyiv. This will happen in fighting,” the minister told media persons.
Recently on 1 March, a young Indian medical student, Naveen SG of Karnataka, was killed in shelling in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv when he ventured out to buy food for himself and fellow students. Singh said the Centre is making efforts to ensure that the maximum number of students can come out of Ukraine with as little loss as possible. India evacuates its citizens through special flights from Ukraine’s western neighbours More than 7,400 Indians are expected to be brought back to India from Ukraine’s neighbouring countries on special flights in the next two days, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Thursday. Indian carriers – Air India Express, Air India, SpiceJet, IndiGo, Vistara and Go First – are expected to operate a total of 17 flights on Friday, the ministry’s statement noted. India has been evacuating its citizens through special flights from Ukraine’s western neighbours such as Romania, Hungary and Poland as the Ukrainian airspace has been shut since February 24 due to the Russian military offensive.
The number of civilian flights is being scaled up further, and more than 7,400 people are expected to be brought through special flights in next two days," the ministry’s statement mentioned. It stated that 3,500 people are expected to be brought back to India on Friday and over 3,900 on Saturday. The ministry said India has till now brought back 6,998 people on special flights – including the ones operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF) – since 22 February. It noted that 13 evacuation flights – 10 by Indian carriers and three by the IAF – are scheduled to return to India on Thursday. Four Union ministers have gone to Ukraine’s western neighbours to facilitate the evacuation of Indian nationals. Hardeep Singh Puri is in Hungary, Jyotiraditya Scindia is in Romania, Kiren Rijiju is in Slovakia and VK Singh is in Poland. Also read: Indian student killed in Russian shelling of Ukraine’s Kharkiv; PM Modi offers heartfelt condolences to kin Read all the Latest News , Trending News , Cricket News , Bollywood News , India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .